Intro & Our little (soon to be) reef

[macclellan]

Any suggestions on some actinic for this tank? The 70w HQI is plenty bright, but is much whiter than I'd expected at 15000k - it looks identical to my 10000k planted tank bulbs by a different manufacturer. So, I want the blues.

Ideally, I'd be able to rig it just behind the HQI to keep with the sexy, unencumbered look of the tank. LED? or what? I'd rather avoid having to put a little 13w PC bulb back there due to cost and the fuss of the ballast and what not. But if folks think it's best, then PC it is.

Any advice or links appreciated. T'ya.

 

[fishdoc11]

Actually T5's or VHO's are really the best atinics. Most agree the UVL super atinic, in either "format", is the best with the VHO version being the best of the 2. PC's are "OK" if that's all that will fit. LED's would give you more blue (not sure what spectrum) I guess but most use those for moonlights and not a supplement to the main lighting source. True atinic bulbs have a spike in the 420nm section that really fluoresces corals. Blue bulbs typically have a higher output in the 450nm range.
There is a really clean looking way to mount T5's on a pendant fixture in this thread:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1216333
hth, Chris

 

[ct_vol]

They're working on coming out with different spectrum LED's... Coralife has a newer fixture, as does a few other companies... But I would stick with T5's or VHO's as Chris suggested...

 

[fishdoc11]

Here is a pic of the light fixture....

...because I know Mel is curious

 

[ct_vol]

Wow... That is nice... I'll admit I didn't click on the link...

 

[macclellan]

Thanks for the tips on true actinic vs. blue lunar lights etc.

I know that T5-HOs are more efficient than PCs and maybe even HQIs in some cases, especially w/VHO (let's not get into that debate though, there are bajillions already) and the bulb options are the best. I have a Catalina Aquariums T5-HO fixture with individual reflectors and Workhorse ballasts on my 75g planted tank and it is great - I have similar mounts to hang it pendant-style like what you linked, but haven't gotten around to it since the legs are fine for now (it would be a different story if it was a 6x54w instead of a 4x54w).

*But* My tank is a 14g, and the horizontal dimension is 14" AFAIK, there are no aquarium-oriented T5 fixtures under 24", and besides, I'd like to keep it under 6" to mount it on my metal halide.

I'll look into the Coralife LEDs a bit more, thanks for that. I'll use a DIY 13w PC as the fallback plan.

Crap like this is too weak to do anything, right?:http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290249667652&category=46314&refid=store

 

[fishdoc11]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13367515#post13367515 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by macclellan

Crap like this is too weak to do anything, right?:http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290249667652&category=46314&refid=store

I don't know because I haven't tried but my guess is yes. I'll just say I can't see my moonlights with my halides on The newer LED's Randy mentioned might be an option though. Probably the easiest thing to do would be to get a higher kelvin bulb.

 

[macclellan]

Gotta start somewhere: first coral additions: Some shroomies taking root to rubble in a glass (a green and 2 chameleons) and a big hairy green and lil blue on rocks:

And slightly further along:

I'm going to have to work with this "patience" thing. Reef tanks develop and grow waaaay slower than planted tanks!

 

[macclellan]

Well, the barren glass box of rocks is starting to show faint glimmers of hope...Mad props to David and Clay for helping us get started...

 

[macclellan]

New Zoas...

Dark purple with teal/green centers and spots...best $5 frag ever?!?

Pink Sparkles:

Whammin' Watermelons:

 

[macclellan]

cool new zoas before I pulled them off the frag slabs:

detail:

 

[macclellan]

Updated quick pic for Russell... growth is slow but steady... I lowered the HQI a few inches, maybe that will help a bit... at least no nuisance algae and nothing is dying.

 

[ct_vol]

Looking good... :thumbsup:

 

[fishdoc11]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14534641#post14534641 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by macclellan
at least no nuisance algae and nothing is dying.

That's half the battle....looks good

 

[macclellan]

The funny thing is... see those pink zoas by the royal gramma and nuc. greens? those are the morph that I didn't want specifically when I got those frags from you (they came along with something I did specifically want). Yeah, so those are my favorites of the frags I got from you by far, and they grow really fast...I think I just started with a few polyps.

I don't see the big deal with nuclear greens...maybe I need a 20k bulb and a bigger colony of them. Same for purple deaths, but I've yet to see those in person.

 

[fishdoc11]

You never know till you get them in your own tank sometimes
I like nuclear greens but you need a top down tank to appreciate purple deaths....they are bright purple from the top down but blah from the side

 

[planejane]

Beautiful tank, almost like a fruit bowl!

 

[Flavum]

hey no fair your tank looks awesome for only being up 5 months! beginers luck

Those pink zoas with the green centers are intense, tank looks great.

Have you put up any shots of the new planted tank?

 

[macclellan]

Which new planted tank? Probably this one?

30L...old:

new:

Other stuff while I'm posting pics...

75g....About 6 months old with this layout:

need to take some new pics of my other tanks...been lazy lately.


Better pics showing corals in the reef tanklet...pardon the glasses, I fragged my nicer mushrooms and a few rics... I need to get rid of some stuff and make some room, I'll probably post a FS thread before the next meeting.

 

[NeveSSL]

Wow! Your tank looks great! I need to get some rics and shrooms from you.

Brandon